Skirt-gage.



No. 728,598. PATENTED MAY 19, 1903. J. B. MOFATRIGH.

SKIRT GAGE.

APPLICATION 21mm JAN. 17,4903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented May 19, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

SKIRT-GAGE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 728,598, dated May 19, 1903.

Application filed January 17, 1903. Serial No. 139,463. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES B. MOFATRIOH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skirt-Gages, of which the following is a specification.

In fitting dress-skirts of the shorter styles it is necessary that the lower edge of the garment hang evenlyat a certain distance above the floor. The object of this inventionis the production of an implement for gaging this distance when the garment is being fitted.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a skirt-gage embodying the features of my invention, showing said implement in use. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the gage, partly in section and on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the gage-arm. Fig. t is a detail view showing the position of the gage-arm with relation to the gage-bar. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of a modified form of gage-arm.

In the construction of askirt-gage embodying my invention I provide a base 1 of any suitable construction and to this base rigidly secure the upright graduated gage-bar 2, substantially rectangular in cross-section and having on two of its opposite faces the teeth or notches 3, those on one side of the bar facing upward and those on the opposite side facing downward. One of the plain sides of the bar is provided with a scale of inches to indicate the distance of the gage arm from the floor. This gage-arm i is adapted to be supported by said gage-bar and to be moved vertically with relation to said bar. To'provide for this Vertical adjustment, the arm has near one of its ends two inter-communicating openings 5 and 6. The walls of the opening 5 are parallel with the marginal edges of the arm, and this opening'is sufficiently large to permit free movement of the arm with relation to the gage-bar. In the opening 6 two of the opposite walls thereof are inclined with relation to the corresponding walls of the opening 5, providing inwardly-extending edges 7, adapted to engage the faces of the teeth 3 on opposite sides of the gage-bar. When the gage-bar lies within the opening 5, the arm may be moved freely up and down the bar. When it is desirable to fix the arm with relation to the gage-bar,

said arm is shifted sidewise, so that the projecting edges 7 engage the faces of the opposing teeth of said gage-bar.

In use the implement is set upon the floor and the gage-arm adjusted at the desired height. The person wearing the skirt to be fitted stands beside the instrument, so that the lower edge of one side of the skirt touches 'the arm 4:. The skirt is adjusted and temporarily secured to the waistband at this point, so that the lower hem of the garment just touches the upper side of the gage-arm 4, the person wearing the skirt turning as the fitting proceeds to bring all portions of the lower hem of said garment into contact with the gage-arm 4.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5 an opening 6 similar to the opening 6 is provided, the opening 5 being omitted; but said opening 6 is made wide enough so that the outer end of the gage-arm maybe raisedinto an inclined position and the gage-arm slid on the bar 2. The opening 6 is provided with inwardlyextending edges 7 When the arm is in a horizontal position, the projecting edges 7 of the opening 6 engage the teeth 3 of the gage-barin the same way that the projections '7 of the arm 4 engage said teeth.

It is apparent that many changes might be made in the embodiment herein shown of this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I therefore desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details herein set forth.

I claim as my invention In a skirt-gage, in combination,a base; an upright gage-bar secured thereto, said gagebar being provided with oppositely-directed teeth; and a gage-arm adapted to be moved longitudinally of said gage-bar, said arm being provided to one side of its longitudinal center with an opening through which the gage-bar passes, and with an intercommunicating opening inclined with relation to said first-mentioned opening and having projecting edges for engaging the teeth of said gagebar.

- JAMES B. MCFATRICH.

Witnessesi CHARLES R. LYON, O. S. FRIEDMAN.

ICO 

